grocery store lobsters

[Mrsfuller2572]

My four year old is asking if he can pick out a lobster from the grocery store for our tank.......this is not a good idea, right?
He's serious, stop laughing.

 

[Konrade]

Nope.

 

[lando]

No sorry. Not a good idea. Most of these are Atlantic lobsters and require a cold tank. Not to mention, it would eat just about anything in the tank.

 

[tecwzrd]

Not for your sized tank. They require 100+ gal tank as a minimum due to the large size they get and excellent filtration along with a chiller for proper care. That and as lando said they are not “reef safe” and would eat just about anything they could get a hold of.

If you really want a lobster I’d get a Reef Lobster which is fairly small, a great scavenger and fairly easy to take care of.

If you do get one make sure you drip acclimate them for 3+ hours since they can be really sensitive to sg/ph changes.

 

[demodiki]

Even that reef lobster may turn psychopath eventually. I shudder thinking what an Atlantic lobster would do!

 

[tecwzrd]

Even that reef lobster may turn psychopath eventually.

I’ve had them in the past and they are no more a threat then large shrimp are. They generally tend to leave everyone alone and just scavenge the bottom, usually will take food from your hand and really do not even pinch that hard. I’ll be getting another one as soon as my lfs gets some more in stock.

 

[Biggen]

Agree with all of the above.

Have you ever checked the thermometer hanging inside one of those lobster tanks at the grocery store? High 40's water temperature... It has a refrigeration system built in specifically for those guys...

 

[melosu58]

I do have a reef lobster. It is purple and orange and they are great for the tank as scavangers. Never had a problem. And hardley ever see him as he will not come out in the open.

 

[canyon15]

If you really need one I am on the east coast of canada and they are a dime a dozen! LOL.

 

[ferretttt]

Now im getting hungry!

I used to live in NY and went diving for lobsters in the Long Island Sound. They truly like the colder waters (wore a dry suit sometimes) and will eat everything.

 

[proverbs]

homer simpson had one as a pet. eventually he ended up eating it.

 

[Brenden]

homer simpson had one as a pet. eventually he ended up eating it.

Thanks proverbs

 

[Macrosill]

A little side note. I once had a crawfish in a fw tank. The species I had were supposed to be "safe for fish". Well lets just say there were a few fish that mysteriously disappeared. So one night I turned the lights off, dressed in black, got a flashlight, compass and a map, it was a scene from Rambo minus the machine gun, I could not find one in time. I was off on a mission. To no suprise the crawfish was sitting on the bottom with his claws in the air waiting for the first victim to come too close. Then all of a sudden, snap and he got one. He did not last long in that tank for much longer.

 

[shawmutt]

My four year old is asking if he can pick out a lobster from the grocery store for our tank.......this is not a good idea, right?
He's serious, stop laughing.

If your "tank" is a boiling pot of water on the stove, I'd say go for it.

OK, gotta go back to the freshie side .

 

[tecwzrd]

OK, gotta go back to the freshie side

You’ll come to the dark side eventually, salt that is

 

[Mrsfuller2572]

LOL
That's what I thought. I have to agree with the boiling pot of H2O on the stove. We MIGHT look into one of the little reef guys eventually to give my 4 yr. old the satisfaction of his quest for such a 'pet'.
Thanks guys! It's been entertaining!